ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2010

Section 1246, “Annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s
Republic of China,” of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Public Law
111-84, which amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, Section
1202, Public Law 106-65, provides that the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report “in both
classified and unclassified form, on military and security developments involving the People’s
Republic of China. The report shall address the current and probable future course of militarytechnological
development of the People’s Liberation Army and the tenets and probable
development of Chinese security strategy and military strategy, and of the military organizations
and operational concepts, through the next 20 years. The report shall also address United
States-China engagement and cooperation on security matters during the period covered by the
report, including through United States-China military-to-military contacts, and the United
States strategy for such engagement and cooperation in the future.”

Transcript of "ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2010"

1.
ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS
Military and Security Developments
Involving the People’s Republic of China
2010
Office of the Secretary of Defense

2.
Military and Security Developments Involving the
People’s Republic of China
2010
A Report to Congress
Pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2010
Section 1246, “Annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s
Republic of China,” of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Public Law
111-84, which amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, Section
1202, Public Law 106-65, provides that the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report “in both
classified and unclassified form, on military and security developments involving the People’s
Republic of China. The report shall address the current and probable future course of military-
technological development of the People’s Liberation Army and the tenets and probable
development of Chinese security strategy and military strategy, and of the military organizations
and operational concepts, through the next 20 years. The report shall also address United
States-China engagement and cooperation on security matters during the period covered by the
report, including through United States-China military-to-military contacts, and the United
States strategy for such engagement and cooperation in the future.”

4.
Executive Summary
Over the past 30 years, China has made great progress in its pursuit of economic growth and
development, which has allowed China to achieve higher living standards for the Chinese people
and has increased China’s international profile. These economic achievements, combined with
progress in science and technology, have also enabled China to embark on a comprehensive
transformation of its military. The pace and scope of China’s military modernization have
increased over the past decade, enabling China’s armed forces to develop capabilities to
contribute to the delivery of international public goods, as well as increase China’s options for
using military force to gain diplomatic advantage or resolve disputes in its favor.
Earlier this decade, China began a new phase of military development by articulating roles and
missions for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that go beyond China’s immediate territorial
interests. Some of these missions and associated capabilities have allowed the PLA to contribute
to international peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counter-
piracy operations. The United States recognizes and welcomes these contributions. Other
investments have allowed the PLA to pursue anti-access and area-denial strategies. Still others
appear designed to improve the PLA’s ability for extended-range power projection, although
China’s ability to sustain military power at a distance, today, remains limited. As the 2010
Quadrennial Defense Review Report notes, “China is developing and fielding large numbers of
advanced medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles, new attack submarines equipped with
advanced weapons, increasingly capable long-range air defense systems, electronic warfare and
computer network attack capabilities, advanced fighter aircraft, and counter-space systems.”
Cross-Strait economic and cultural ties continued to make important progress in 2009. Despite
these positive trends, China’s military build-up opposite the island continued unabated. The
PLA is developing the capability to deter Taiwan independence or influence Taiwan to settle the
dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible
U.S. support for the island in case of conflict. The balance of cross-Strait military forces
continues to shift in the mainland’s favor.
The PLA has made modest improvements in the transparency of China’s military and security
affairs. However, many uncertainties remain regarding how China will use its expanding
military capabilities. The limited transparency in China’s military and security affairs enhances
uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.
As President Obama has said, “[the U.S.-China] relationship has not been without disagreement
and difficulty. But the notion that we must be adversaries is not pre-destined.” Sustained and
reliable U.S.-China military-to-military relations support this goal by reducing mistrust,
enhancing mutual understanding and broadening cooperation. China’s recurring decision to
suspend military exchanges has impeded this effort. The Department of Defense will continue to
use its interactions with China to encourage it to play a constructive role in addressing common
security challenges in Asia and globally. At the same time, the Department of Defense has a
special responsibility to monitor China’s military and to deter conflict. Through force posture,
presence, capability developments, and actions to strengthen alliances and partnerships, the
Department of Defense demonstrates the United States’ will and ability to maintain peace and
stability in the Asia-Pacific.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China I

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Chapter One: Annual Update
“The future and destiny of contemporary China is more and more closely linked to the future and
destiny of the world. China’s development cannot be done without the world, and the world’s
development needs China.”
– People’s Republic of China President Hu Jintao
Several significant developments in China over the past year relate to the questions Congress posed
in Section 1246 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84).
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECURITY  In May 2009, Wang Yi, Chairman of the
SITUATION IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office—an
office under the State Council that is
Since the election of President Ma Ying-jeou in responsible for setting and implementing
March 2008, the People’s Republic of China policies related to Taiwan—expanded upon
(PRC) has promoted greater cross-Strait the theme of Beijing’s willingness to
engagement. Both Beijing and Taipei have discuss military confidence-building
emphasized enhancing semi-official, people-to- measures by stating that the PRC and
people and party-to-party contacts, and Taiwan should not avoid discussing difficult
expanding economic and cultural ties. There political and military issues. He said that a
have been no meaningful actions on the part of failure to resolve such topics could result in
the mainland, however, to reduce the PRC a bottleneck in the development of cross-
military presence opposite the island. Strait relations.
 President Hu Jintao made a major speech on DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SIZE,
December 31, 2008, in which he set forth LOCATION, AND CAPABILITIES OF
key elements of Beijing’s cross-Strait
PRC MILITARY FORCES
policy. The speech signaled greater
flexibility on Taiwan’s international status China’s long-term, comprehensive
and suggested expanded contacts between transformation of its military forces is
the two sides’ militaries. It also included an improving its capacity for force projection and
explicit outreach to Taiwan’s historically anti-access/area-denial. Consistent with a near-
pro-independence opposition Democratic term focus on preparing for Taiwan Strait
Progressive Party, on the condition that it contingencies, China continues to deploy many
relinquishes its independence activities. In of its most advanced systems to the military
May 2009, China exercised greater regions (MRs) opposite Taiwan.
flexibility on Taiwan’s international
participation by not objecting to Taiwan’s Ballistic and Cruise Missiles. China has the
participation in the World Health Assembly most active land-based ballistic and cruise
as an observer. Although cross-Strait missile program in the world. It is developing
military contacts did not expand materially and testing several new classes and variants of
in 2009, Beijing and Taipei continued offensive missiles, forming additional missile
negotiations on an Economic Cooperation units, qualitatively upgrading certain missile
Framework Agreement. systems, and developing methods to counter
ballistic missile defenses.
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 The PLA is acquiring large numbers of Naval Forces. The PLA Navy has the largest
highly accurate cruise missiles, such as the force of principal combatants, submarines, and
domestically-produced ground-launched amphibious warfare ships in Asia. China’s
DH-10 land-attack cruise missile (LACM); naval forces include some 75 principal
the domestically produced ground- and combatants, more than 60 submarines, 55
ship-launched YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missile medium and large amphibious ships, and
(ASCM), which is outfitted on the roughly 85 missile-equipped patrol craft.
domestically produced LUYANG II-class
 Construction of a new PLA Navy base on
guided-missile destroyer (DDGs); the
Hainan Island is essentially complete. The
Russian SS-N-22/SUNBURN supersonic
base is large enough to accommodate a mix
ASCM, which is outfitted on China’s
of attack and ballistic missile submarines
SOVREMENNYY-class DDGs acquired
and advanced surface combatants. The
from Russia; and, the Russian SS-N-
base, which has underground facilities,
27B/SIZZLER supersonic ASCM, which is
provides the PLA Navy with direct access
outfitted on China’s Russian-built, KILO-
to vital international sea lanes, and offers
class diesel electric submarines.
the potential for stealthy deployment of
 By December 2009, the PLA had deployed submarines into the South China Sea.
between 1,050 and 1,150 CSS-6 and CSS-7
 China has an active aircraft carrier research
short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) to
and development program. The PRC
units opposite Taiwan. It is upgrading the
shipbuilding industry could start
lethality of this force, including by
construction of an indigenous platform by
introducing variants of these missiles with
the end of this year. China is interested in
improved ranges, accuracies, and payloads.
building multiple operational aircraft
 China is developing an anti-ship ballistic carriers with support ships in the next
missile (ASBM) based on a variant of the decade.
CSS-5 medium-range ballistic missile
 The PLA Navy has reportedly decided to
(MRBM). The missile has a range in excess
initiate a program to train 50 pilots to
of 1,500 km, is armed with a maneuverable
operate fixed-wing aircraft from an aircraft
warhead, and when integrated with
carrier. The initial program, presumably
appropriate command and control systems,
land-based, would be followed in about four
is intended to provide the PLA the
years by ship-borne training involving the
capability to attack ships, including aircraft
ex-VARYAG—a former Soviet Kuznetsov-
carriers, in the western Pacific Ocean.
class aircraft carrier—which was purchased
 China is modernizing its nuclear forces by by China from Ukraine in 1998 and is being
adding more survivable delivery systems. renovated at a shipyard in Dalian, China.
For example, in recent years the road
 The PLA Navy is improving its over-the-
mobile, solid propellant DF-31 and DF-31A
horizon (OTH) targeting capability with
intercontinental range ballistic missiles
Sky Wave and Surface Wave OTH radars.
(ICBM) have entered service. The DF-31A,
OTH radars could be used in conjunction
with a range in excess of 11,200 km, can
with imagery satellites to assist in locating
reach most locations within the continental
targets at great distances from PRC shores
United States (CONUS).
to support long range precision strikes,
 China may also be developing a new road- including by anti-ship ballistic missiles.
mobile ICBM, possibly capable of carrying
 China continues production of its newest
a multiple independently targeted re-entry
JIN-class (Type 094) nuclear powered
vehicles (MIRV).
ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). China
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Informatization
The concept of “informatization” (xinxihua—信息化) emphasizes the effects of modern
information technology on military decision and weapons employment cycles. The term
officially entered the PLA’s lexicon in 2002 when then-Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
General Secretary and Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Jiang Zemin, in a speech
before the 16th Party Congress, referred to the concept as necessary for the PLA’s rapid
modernization and for enabling Integrated Joint Operations. Jiang’s address recognized that
moving China’s military on a path toward informatization would require integrating the entire
PLA with common information systems, as well as a new organizational model for warfighting.
The PLA formally institutionalized the concept in 2004. PLA analyses of U.S. and coalition
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have re-emphasized the importance of informatization and
joint operations.
The PLA is attempting the concurrent pursuit of “mechanization” (application of late 20th-
Century industrial technology to military operations) and “informatization” (application of
information technology to military operations). As a consequence, and in recognition of the
high costs of force-wide refitting with state-of-the-art weapons systems, the PLA is selectively
acquiring new generation technologies in some areas, while deferring new acquisitions in others
in favor of upgrading older, but capable, systems for networked operations.
may field up to five new SSBNs. One JIN-  The PLA Navy continues its acquisition of
class SSBN has entered service alongside domestically produced surface combatants.
two new SHANG-class (Type 093) nuclear- These include two LUYANG II-class (Type
powered attack submarines (SSN), four 052C) DDGs fitted with the indigenous
older HAN-class SSNs, and China’s single HHQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile
XIA-class SSBN. (SAM); two LUZHOU-class (Type 051C)
DDGs equipped with the Russian SA-N-20
 China is further expanding its current force
long-range SAM; and four (soon to be six)
of nuclear-powered attack submarines and
JIANGKAI II-class (Type 054A) guided-
may add up to five advanced Type 095
missile frigates (FFG) to be fitted with the
SSNs to the inventory in the coming years.
medium-range HHQ-16 vertically launched
 China has 13 SONG-class (Type 039) naval SAM currently under development.
diesel-electric attack submarines (SS) in its These ships reflect the leadership’s priority
inventory. The SONG-class SS is designed on an advanced anti-air warfare capability
to carry the YJ-82 ASCM. The follow-on for China’s naval forces, which has
to the SONG is the YUAN-class SS, as historically been a weakness of the fleet.
many as four of which are already in
service. China may plan to construct 15  China has deployed some 60 of its new
HOUBEI-class (Type 022) wave-piercing
additional hulls for this class. The YUAN-
catamaran hull missile patrol boats. Each
class SS are armed similarly to the SONG-
boat can carry up to eight YJ-83 ASCMs.
class SS, but also include a possible air
independent propulsion system. The SONG Air and Air Defense Forces. China bases 490
SS, YUAN SS, and SHANG SSN will be combat aircraft within unrefueled operational
capable of launching the new CH-SS-NX- range of Taiwan, and has the airfield capacity to
13 ASCM, once the missile completes expand that number by hundreds. Many of
development and testing. these aircraft are upgrades of older models;
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 3

13.
however, newer and more advanced aircraft personnel carriers, and artillery. Among the
make up a growing percentage of the inventory. new capabilities acquired by, or under
development for, PLA ground forces are Type
 The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) celebrated its
99 third-generation main battle tanks, a new-
60th Anniversary on November 11, 2009.
generation amphibious assault vehicle (AAV),
During the anniversary ceremony, CMC
and 200-mm, 300-mm, and 400-mm multiple
Vice Chairman General Guo Boxiong urged
rocket launch systems.
the PLAAF to accelerate the development
of new weapons systems, improve the  In 2009, the PLA focused training and
PLAAF’s logistics systems, and improve exercises on command and control, joint
joint operations training. In an interview on ground and air coordination, mobility and
the occasion of the anniversary, PLAAF mobilization in information warfare, and
Commander General Xu Qiliang said that assault operations.
the trend of military competition extending
 In addition to the active ground forces,
to space is “inevitable” and emphasized the
China has a reserve force of some 500,000
transformation of the PLAAF from a
(as of 2008) and a large militia that can be
homeland defense focus to one that
mobilized in wartime to support the war
“integrates air and space,” and that
effort within their home provinces.
possesses both “offensive and defensive”
Although China plans to reduce the size of
capabilities.
the organized militia from 10 million to 8
 China is upgrading its B-6 bomber fleet million by the end of the 11th Five Year
(originally adapted from the Russian Tu-16) Plan (2006-2010), all males between 18 and
with a new variant that, when operational, 35 years of age not currently serving in the
will be armed with a new long-range cruise military are technically part of the militia
missile. system.
 The PLAAF has continued to expand its
DEVELOPMENTS IN PLA DOCTRINE
inventory of long-range, advanced SAM
systems and now possesses one of the In 2009, the PLA continued to emphasize
largest such forces in the world. Over the training in line with recent doctrinal
past five years, China’s efforts have developments that emphasize non-war
included the acquisition of a number of SA- missions, as well as training for war under
20 PMU2 battalions, the most advanced realistic, high-tech conditions. These PLA
SAM system offered for export by Russia, efforts to achieve more informatized joint
and the introduction of the indigenously training were highlighted in China’s 2008
designed HQ-9. Defense White Paper and marked a
 China’s aviation industry is developing continuation of efforts to implement the revised
several types of airborne early warning and Outline of Military Training and Evaluation
control (AEW&C) aircraft. This includes (OMTE), which was published in mid-2008 and
the KJ-200, based on the Y-8 transport, for became standard across the PLA on January 1,
AEW&C as well as intelligence collection 2009.
and maritime surveillance, and the KJ-2000,  The new OMTE emphasizes realistic
based on a modified IL-76 transport training conditions, training in complex
airframe. electromagnetic and joint environments, and
Ground Forces. The PLA has about 1.25 integrating new and high technologies into
million personnel in its ground forces, with the force structure.
roughly 400,000 based in the three MRs  PLA group armies diversified their 2009
opposite Taiwan. China is upgrading ground training to include military operations other
forces units with modern tanks, armored
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 4

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than war. The training now includes anti- established the Jinan Theater Joint
terrorism, emergency response, disaster Leadership Organization—the first of its
relief, and international peace operations. kind—to integrate, at the campaign level, all
services, including the Second Artillery
 The PLA continues to emphasize enabling
Corps, as well as provincial leadership and
joint operations. For example, the PLA
leading personnel from other organizations.
Enabling Modern Warfare: Joint Operations
China’s military has been working for several years to develop the capability to conduct
integrated joint operations (IJO), a concept the PRC believes essential to modern warfare. IJO
are characterized by the integration of multiple service elements under a joint command
headquarters, making full use of advanced information technology and a networked command
platform. China’s research, training, and preparations for joint operations have evolved
substantially since the promulgation of its first joint campaign doctrine in the late 1990s, but
serious challenges limit the PLA’s ability to conduct IJO through at least 2010.
 Early Chinese attempts at joint operations focused on the cooperation of branches within a
service and operations loosely coordinated among the services using phased operations.
 The PLA issued its first doctrine for the conduct of joint operations in 1999. However, PLA
training and exercises for several years after the doctrine’s establishment reflected a reliance
on pre-determined sequencing of service operations with little interaction or integration of
the forces.
 Recent efforts toward more integrated operations are embodied in the January 2009 edition
of the PLA OMTE. This OMTE has been noted in official Chinese media as a new starting
point for IJO and as making PLA training more joint and complex.
Obstacles. China’s military leaders recognize and acknowledge that one of the primary
obstacles to IJO is that many PLA commanders have little or no training for, or experience
operating in, a joint environment. Key challenges include a shortage of commanders and staff
qualified for such operations; a lack of understanding of the capabilities, equipment, and tactics
of the other services; and a lack of advanced technology to enable communication and
information sharing among the services.
Efforts to Improve. To rectify these deficiencies, the PLA launched enhanced training and
professional military education, cross-training rotational assignments to different services, war
simulations, military training coordination zones, and multi-regional military exercises. In
2009, the PLA conducted at least three high-profile joint exercises through mid-September,
including a joint ground-air exercise involving cross-military region deployment of up to 50,000
troops, a joint campaign exercise to train theater-level commanders in joint operations, and a
joint anti-terrorism exercise with Russia.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 5

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DEVELOPMENTS IN PRC EFFORTS involve charges of illegal technology transfer
TO DEVELOP, ACQUIRE, OR GAIN by individuals within the United States to the
ACCESS TO ADVANCED PRC, traditional espionage does occur.
TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD  In July 2009, PRC national Chi Tong Kuok
ENHANCE ITS MILITARY was indicted for violating U.S. export laws
CAPABILITIES after allegedly attempting to obtain sensitive
cryptology equipment that would have
China relies on foreign technology, acquisition allowed the PRC to monitor U.S. military
of key dual-use components, and focused communications.
indigenous research and development to
advance military modernization.  Another case involved a former U.S. Pacific
Command liaison official, who was charged
The PRC utilizes a large, well-organized in May 2009 with knowingly passing
network of enterprises, defense factories and classified and unclassified information,
affiliated research institutes and computer including U.S. policy documents, to a PRC
network operations to facilitate the collection of agent.
sensitive information and export-controlled  In July 2009, a former professor at the
technology. These entities are not necessarily University of Tennessee was sentenced to
nor always linked to PRC intelligence and four years imprisonment for a case
security services. involving the export to PRC nationals of
controlled technical data related to a
Many of the enterprises and institutes that make restricted U.S. Air Force contract to develop
up the PRC military-industrial complex have plasma actuators for an unmanned aerial
both military and civilian research and vehicle (UAV).
development functions. This network of
commercial and government-affiliated CHALLENGES TO TAIWAN’S
companies and research institutes often enables DETERRENT FORCES
the PLA to gain access to sensitive and dual-use
technologies or knowledgeable experts under There were no armed incidents in the vicinity of
the guise of civilian research and development. the Taiwan Strait in 2009 and the overall
The enterprises and institutes accomplish this situation remains stable, as it did in 2008.
through technology conferences and symposia; However, the PRC’s military build-up and the
legitimate contracts and joint commercial deployment of advanced capabilities opposite
ventures; partnerships with foreign firms; and, the island have not eased.
joint development of specific technologies. Since arriving in office in May 2008, President
Ma Ying-jeou has instituted a number of
In the case of key national security important and far-reaching defense reforms
technologies, controlled equipment, and other designed to streamline and professionalize the
materials not readily obtainable through military. Taiwan continues to advance select
commercial means or academia, the PRC capabilities and improve its overall contingency
resorts to more focused efforts, including the training. The balance of forces continues,
use of its intelligence services and other-than- however, to shift in the mainland’s favor.
legal means, in violation of U.S. laws and
export controls. Since 2008, U.S. press  Taiwan plans to cut its military force to
reporting has publicized a number of cases 215,000 troops and transition to an all-
spotlighting the measures taken to procure volunteer military by the end of 2014. It
items perceived by the PRC as crucial to its will also reorganize several support
technological development and military commands and civilianize its key defense
modernization. Even though cases primarily
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 6

16.
research and development facility to 2009. Beijing launched a commercial
improve efficiency and productivity. COMSAT, Palapa-D, for Indonesia on
August 31, 2009.
 Consistent with the provisions of the
Taiwan Relations Act, Public Law 96-8  China continues development and testing of
(1979), the United States continues to make the Long March V rocket. Intended to lift
available defense articles and defense heavy payloads into space, it will more than
services to enable Taiwan to maintain a double the size of the Low Earth Orbit and
sufficient self-defense capability. Toward Geosynchronous Orbit payloads that China
this end, in January 2010, the Obama can currently place into orbit. To support
Administration announced its intent to sell these new rockets, China began construction
to Taiwan $6.4 billion in defensive arms of a launch facility near Wenchang on
and equipment, including UH-60 utility Hainan Island in 2008.
helicopters; PATRIOT PAC-3 air and
Cyberwarfare Capabilities. In 2009, numerous
missile defense systems; HARPOON computer systems around the world, including
training missiles; Multifunctional those owned by the U.S. Government,
Information Distribution Systems technical continued to be the target of intrusions that
support for Taiwan’s Po-sheng command, appear to have originated within the PRC.
control, communications, computers, These intrusions focused on exfiltrating
intelligence, surveillance, and information, some of which could be of
reconnaissance (C4ISR) system; and strategic or military utility. The accesses and
OSPREY-class minehunting ships. skills required for these intrusions are similar to
those necessary to conduct computer network
DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA’S SPACE
attacks. It remains unclear if these intrusions
AND CYBER CAPABILITIES were conducted by, or with the endorsement of,
the PLA or other elements of the PRC
Space and Counterspace Capabilities. China government. However, developing capabilities
is expanding its space-based intelligence, for cyberwarfare is consistent with authoritative
surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation, and PLA military writings.
communications satellite constellations. In
parallel, China is developing a multi-  In March 2009, Canadian researchers
dimensional program to improve its capabilities uncovered an electronic spy network,
to limit or prevent the use of space-based assets apparently based mainly in China, which
by potential adversaries during times of crisis or had reportedly infiltrated Indian and other
conflict. China’s commercial space program nations’ government offices around the
has utility for non-military research, but it also world. More than 1,300 computers in 103
demonstrates space launch and control countries were identified.
capabilities that have direct military application.
CHINA’S FOREIGN MILITARY
 Beijing launched a navigation satellite on
April 15, 2009, and plans to have a full ENGAGEMENT
network to provide global positioning for China’s military engagement with other
military and civilian users by 2015-2020. countries seeks to enhance China’s national
 China launched Yaogan-6 on February 22, power by improving foreign relationships,
2009, the 6th in a series of new bolstering its international image, and assuaging
reconnaissance satellites orbited since 2006. other countries’ concerns about China’s rise.
The PLA’s activities also assist its
 Russia launched a commercial modernization through the acquisition of
communications satellite (COMSAT), advanced weapons systems, increased
Asiasat-5, for China on September 11, operational experience both within and beyond
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 7

17.
Asia, and access to foreign military  China and Gabon conducted “Peace Angel
management practices, operational doctrine, 2009” in June, a military medical exercise
and training methods. in Gabon. This is the first exercise of this
sort in which China has participated.
 China continues the Gulf of Aden counter-
piracy deployment that began in December  China and Singapore conducted
2008. The PLA Navy in December 2009 “Cooperation 2009” in June, a combined
sent its fourth deployment, with three training exercise that focused on responding
frigates and one supply ship. Outside of to a terrorist plot to use nuclear weapons.
occasional ship visits, this represents the
 In late June through early July, China and
PLA Navy’s first series of operational
Mongolia held “Peacekeeping Mission
deployments beyond the immediate western
2009,” the first combined training between
Pacific region.
the two countries.
 The Ministry of National Defense (MND) in
 The Sino-Russian counterterrorism exercise
August 2009 launched an official website in
“Peace Mission 2009” was held in July and
both Chinese and English to promote a
involved roughly 1,300 PLA troops. It
positive image of China’s military to
focused on air assault, joint operations, and
foreign audiences.
special operations.
 In July 2009, the MND announced that
Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance/
China would comprehensively expand
Disaster Relief Operations. Since 2002,
foreign military relations through initiatives
China’s contributions to United Nations (UN)-
such as: maintaining military attaché
sponsored peace operations have increased.
offices in 109 countries; annually sending
Presently more than 2,100 on-duty PRC
more than 100 military delegations abroad
personnel are serving in UN missions, with a
and receiving more than 200 visiting
total contribution of more than 12,000
military delegations; conducting high-level
personnel deployed to 22 missions. China is
strategic consultations and professional and
now the leading contributor of peacekeeping
technical exchanges; and organizing study
personnel among the five permanent members
abroad exchanges for mid-grade and junior
of the UN Security Council. China’s
officers.
contributions have included engineering,
Combined Exercises. PLA participation in logistics, and medical troops, civilian police,
bilateral and multilateral exercises is increasing. and observers.
The PLA derives political benefit through
 In March 2009, PRC peacekeepers deployed
increased influence and enhanced ties with
to Lebanon’s southern border began using
partner states and organizations. Such exercises
advanced explosive ordnance disposal
also contribute to PLA modernization by
technologies and techniques, including
providing opportunities to improve capabilities
robot detectors, to sweep landmines.
in areas such as counterterrorism, mobility
operations, and logistics. The PLA also gains China’s civilian and military leaders have
operational insights by observing tactics, identified humanitarian assistance/disaster relief
command decision-making, and equipment (HA/DR) as an area for China to cooperate with
used by more advanced militaries. regional and global partners.
 The PLA Navy in March conducted search  In May 2009, the State Council released a
and rescue operations during “AMAN white paper entitled, “China’s Actions for
2009,” a multilateral naval exercise hosted Disaster Prevention and Reduction.”
by Pakistan.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 8

18.
The paper included a call to strengthen  In May 2009, China’s 10,000-ton ANWEI-
capacity for emergency rescue and relief class hospital ship, the “Peace Ark,”
work at home and abroad, and to establish a conducted its first operational training
coordinated and efficient disaster event. This also was the first time the ship
management system. was open to foreign navies.
Arms Sales
Beijing uses arms sales to enhance foreign relationships and to generate revenue to support its
domestic defense industry. China’s arms sales range from small arms and ammunition to
transfers of advanced weapons systems. Over the past thirty years, arms sales have generally
declined in importance to Beijing as a tool of influence, particularly as PRC weapons systems
became less competitive compared to the more sophisticated systems available from Russia or
Western sources. As the quality of PRC weapons systems improves, however, this trend may
reverse. From 2005-2009, China sold approximately $8 billion worth of conventional weapons
systems worldwide. PRC companies sell primarily to developing countries, where China’s low-
cost weapons are able to achieve market access. In other instances, arms sales serve to cultivate
relationships with important strategic partners, such as Pakistan.
PRC Worldwide Arms Sales. Arms sales for 2005-2009, divided by region.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 9

19.
U.S. ENGAGEMENT AND to discuss safe maritime security practices
COOPERATION ON SECURITY and issues in China’s claimed exclusive
MATTERS economic zone (EEZ).
Military-to-Military Ties. U.S.-China military-  In December, the Deputy Assistant
to-military relations improved in 2009, based Secretary of Defense for East Asia held the
on the commitment of President Obama and U.S.-China Defense Policy Coordination
President Hu to deepen and improve ties Talks (DPCT) with the Director, MND
between the U.S. and PRC armed forces, and to Foreign Affairs Office (FAO). The two
take concrete steps to advance sustained and sides discussed a range of security issues,
reliable military-to-military relations. including climate change, counter-piracy,
internationally lawful uses of the sea, and
High-level dialogues provided important future military-to-military exchanges.
platforms for building toward common views
on the international security environment and Despite these positive developments, Beijing
related security challenges. Examples from chose to suspend military-to-military exchanges
2009 include: in January 2010 following the Obama
Administration’s announcement of its intent to
 The Secretary of Defense hosted PRC CMC sell defensive arms and equipment to Taiwan.
Vice Chairman General Xu Caihou in
October—the first such visit in three years. Non-Military Security Ties. The first round of
The two agreed to a number of cooperative the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic
exchanges and high-level visits, and Dialogue (S&ED) was held in Washington,
exchanged views on regional security D.C. on July 27-28, 2009. The S&ED focused
issues. on addressing the challenges and opportunities
that both countries face on a wide range of
 The U.S. Chief of Naval Operations bilateral, regional, and global areas of
attended the PLA Navy’s International Fleet immediate and long-term strategic and
Review in April, and the U.S. Chief of Staff economic interests. The S&ED is led by the
of the Army visited China in August. Secretary of State and the Secretary of the
The Department of Defense is also investing in Treasury on the U.S. side, and by State
an expanded suite of mechanisms for dialogue Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang
and consultation with China, seeking to build Qishan on the PRC side. Many other Cabinet-
towards continuous dialogue at all levels to level and other senior U.S. officials attended,
expand cooperation in areas where U.S. and including the Secretary of Energy, the Under
PRC national interests converge, and to discuss Secretary of Defense for Policy, and the
constructively differences. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command.
 In June, the Under Secretary of Defense for  The two sides agreed on the importance of
Policy held the U.S.-China Defense maintaining continuous military contact and
Consultative Talks (DCT) with the Deputy reviewed the slate of military-to-military
Chief of the PLA General Staff in Beijing. exchanges for the remainder of the year.
The DCT served as a platform for the two  Both sides also pledged to work
sides to exchange views and explore collaboratively to strengthen global
avenues for cooperation, including on Iran, nonproliferation and arms control regimes,
North Korea, piracy, and defense policy and to work to address security concerns
development. related to North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan
 In August, the United States and China and Pakistan, and Sudan.
convened a special session of the Military
Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA)
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 10

20.
 A Memorandum of Understanding on where he discussed opportunities to foster
Enhancing Cooperation on Climate Change, increased cooperation on civil-maritime issues
Energy, and the Environment was signed with representatives from the Ministry of
during the meeting. Transport, and visited the Maritime Police
Academy at Ningbo. The government of China
The United States and China resumed the
is moving quickly to build up its civil-maritime
bilateral Nonproliferation Dialogue in
capabilities, particularly in search and rescue,
Washington in September 2009, which had
environmental protection, port security, and
been suspended following the announcement of
interdiction. The USCG is committed to
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in October 2008.
helping assist and shape these developments. In
The two sides met again in December 2009 in
keeping with the USCG’s interest in
Beijing. These exchanges, conducted at the
maximizing professional exchanges designed to
Assistant Secretary of State level, seek to
increase mutual trust and understanding, the
strengthen overall nonproliferation cooperation.
Commandant proposed to send a small number
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Commandant Thad of cadets and an instructor to the Maritime
Allen traveled to China in mid-July 2009, Police Academy in summer 2010.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 11

22.
Chapter Two: Understanding China’s Strategy
OVERVIEW
China does not publish equivalents to the U.S. nuclear strategy; and fostering a security
National Security Strategy, National Defense environment conducive to China’s peaceful
Strategy, or National Military Strategy. Rather, development. However, much more could be
China uses “white papers,” speeches, and said by China about its military investments, the
articles as the principal mechanisms to strategy and intentions shaping those
communicate policy and strategy publicly. The investment choices, and the military capabilities
transparency of China’s military and security it is developing.
affairs has improved in recent years, including The study of PLA views on strategy remains an
its biennial publication of Defense White inexact science, and outside observers have few
Papers and the 2009 launch of an official MND direct insights into the formal strategies
website. The most recent Defense White Paper motivating China’s force build-up, the
(2008) summarizes China’s defense policy as leadership’s thinking about the use of force, the
upholding national security and unity and contingency planning that shapes the PLA’s
ensuring the interests of national development; force structure or doctrine, or the linkages
achieving the all-round coordinated and between strategic pronouncements and actual
sustainable development of China’s national policy decisions, especially in crisis situations.
defense and armed forces; enhancing the It is possible, however, to make some
performance of the armed forces with generalizations about China’s strategy based on
informatization as the major measuring tradition, historical pattern, official statements
criterion; implementing the military strategy of and papers, and emphasis on certain military
active defense; pursuing a self-defensive capabilities and diplomatic initiatives.
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24.
CHINA’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES demonstrates a willingness to assert its
interests, while taking on a more active role in
China’s leaders appear to make national resolving disputes and promoting regional
decisions based on a set of strategic priorities, cooperation. In a significant departure from
which include perpetuating CCP rule, prior language, China’s 2008 Defense White
sustaining economic growth and development, Paper maintains that:
maintaining domestic political stability,
defending China’s national sovereignty and “China has become an important member
territorial integrity, and securing China’s status of the international system and the future
as a great power. PRC strategy is one of and destiny of China have been
maintaining balance among these, at times, increasingly closely connected with the
competing priorities. China’s leaders describe international community. China cannot
the initial decades of the 21st century as a develop in isolation from the rest of the
“strategic window of opportunity,” meaning world, nor can the world enjoy prosperity
that regional and international conditions will and stability without China.”
generally be conducive to China’s rise to Nonetheless, there are forces—some beyond the
regional preeminence and global influence, and control of China’s leaders—that could reinforce
seek to prolong that window of opportunity as a relatively inward focus, or that could divert
much as possible. China from a peaceful pathway:
China’s leaders have reaffirmed and continue to  Nationalism: Communist Party leaders
support “reform and opening,” which began in continue to rely on nationalism, based on
1978 as the fundamental basis for China’s China’s economic achievements and
overall strategy and policy. However, two increased international profile, to improve
central perceptions increasingly appear in the legitimacy of the Party. However, this
senior PRC leadership statements and approach contains risks. Although China’s
commentary, suggesting a growing recognition leaders have stoked patriotic sentiment to
that the process of “reform and opening” has manipulate public opinion and deflect
engendered several contradictions and domestic criticism of the CCP, they are
challenges: aware that these forces can be difficult to
 First, reforms have enabled China to control once begun and could easily turn
experience rapid growth in economic, against the state.
political, and military power, but have also  Economics: Continued economic
led to significant new challenges to internal development remains the foundation of the
stability. Party’s popular legitimacy and underwrites
 Second, reforms have increasingly its military power. Unexpected increases in
propelled China into a global security resource demand, global resource shortages
environment in which external events can or price shocks, or restricted access to
no longer be isolated from their effects on resources, could affect China’s strategic
China’s internal situation, and vice versa. outlook and behavior, and might force its
leadership to re-examine its resource
These dual perceptions have led Party leaders to allocation priorities, including those for the
conclude that, through 2020, they should focus military.
on managing or exploiting external tensions,
especially with the great powers, to maintain an  Domestic Political Pressures: Regime
environment conducive to China’s survival and the maintenance of CCP rule
development. shape the strategic outlook of China’s
leaders and drive many of their choices.
Beijing’s growing economic stature partly The Communist Party continues to face
drives a more active external posture in which it long-term popular demands for improved
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 15

25.
government responsiveness, transparency conflict will drive China’s military
and accountability, which weakens its modernization as long as China’s leaders
legitimacy. judge that the permanent loss of Taiwan
could seriously undermine the regime’s
 Demographic Pressures: Demographic
political legitimacy and hold on power.
stresses will increase in the future, creating
a structural constraint on China’s ability to  Regional Concerns: With China’s
sustain high growth rates. proximity and involvement in many of the
world’s “flashpoints” (e.g., North Korea,
 Environment: China’s economic
the Spratly Islands, the Senkaku Islands,
development has come at a significant
Afghanistan, and Pakistan), China’s leaders
environmental cost and China’s leaders are
hope to prevent regional instability from
concerned that these problems could
spilling across China’s borders and thereby
undermine regime legitimacy by threatening
interfering with economic development or
economic development, public health, social
domestic stability. Changes in regional
stability, and China’s international image.
security dynamics—such as perceived
 Cross-Strait Dynamics: Despite a reduction threats to China’s ability to access and
in tensions following the March 2008 transport foreign resources, or disruptions
election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, on the Korean Peninsula—could lead to
the possibility of a military conflict with shifts in China’s military development and
Taiwan and U.S. military intervention deployment patterns, likely with
remain the PLA’s most pressing long-term consequences for neighboring states.
military concerns. A potential cross-Strait
China’s Disputed Territories. Although not exhaustive, three of China’s major ongoing territorial
disputes are based on claims along its shared border with India and Bhutan, the South China Sea,
and with Japan in the East China Sea.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 16

26.
China’s Territorial Disputes
China’s use of force in territorial disputes has varied widely throughout history. Some
disputes led to war, such as China’s border conflicts with India in 1962 and Vietnam in 1979.
A contested border with the former Soviet Union during the 1960s raised the possibility of
nuclear war. In more recent cases, China has been willing to compromise with and even
offer concessions to its neighbors. Since 1998, China has settled eleven land territorial
disputes with six of its neighbors. Several disputes continue over EEZs and ownership of
potentially rich, off-shore oil and gas deposits.
The East China Sea contains approximately 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and up to 100
billion barrels of oil. Japan maintains that an equidistant line from each country involved
should separate the EEZs, while China claims an Extended Continental Shelf beyond the
equidistant line to the Okinawa Trench (which almost reaches Japan’s shore). In early 2009,
Japan accused China of violating a June 2008 agreement providing for joint exploration of
oil and natural gas fields, and claimed that China unilaterally drilled beneath the demarcation
line and extracted reserves from the Japanese side. China and Japan continue to dispute
possession of the nearby Senkaku Islands. However, both sides have said that this dispute
should not undermine their overall relationship.
The South China Sea plays an important role in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia security
considerations. Northeast Asia relies heavily on the flow of oil and commerce through South
China Sea shipping lanes, including 80 percent of the crude oil to Japan, South Korea, and
Taiwan. China claims sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel island groups—claims
disputed in whole or part by Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Taiwan, which occupies Itu Aba in the Spratly Islands, also claims all four island groups in
the South China Sea. In 2009, China protested claims made by Malaysia and Vietnam and
reiterated it has “indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the
adjacent waters and enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters as well
as the seabed and subsoil thereof.”
Despite increased political and economic relations over the years between China and India,
tensions remain along their shared 4,057 km border, most notably over Arunachal Pradesh,
which China asserts is part of Tibet and therefore of China, and over the Askai Chin region
at the western end of the Tibetan Plateau. Both countries in 2009 stepped up efforts to assert
their claims. China tried to block a $2.9 billion loan to India from the Asian Development
Bank, claiming part of the loan would have been used for water projects in Arunachal
Pradesh. This represented the first time China sought to influence this dispute through a
multilateral institution. The then governor of Arunachal Pradesh announced that India would
deploy more troops and fighter jets to the area. An Indian academic also noted that in 2008,
the Indian military had recorded 270 border violations and nearly 2,300 cases of “aggressive
border patrolling” by Chinese soldiers.
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27.
DEBATES ON FUTURE STRATEGY There has also been an active debate among
military and civilian theorists in China about
Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo in July what new capabilities the PLA should develop
2009 defined China’s “core interests” as to protect and advance China’s interests beyond
safeguarding the basic system and national the traditional requirements to protect China
security, national sovereignty and territorial from attack or coercion, deter Taiwan
integrity, and sustained and stable economic independence or influence Taiwan to settle the
and social development. China’s current dispute on Beijing’s terms, and defend China’s
strategy remains one of managing the external claims to disputed territories in the South China
environment to ensure conditions are conducive Sea and elsewhere. Some senior officers and
to its own economic development. This civilian theorists advocate a major expansion of
strategy appears to be accepted widely by the PLA’s power projection capabilities, while
Beijing’s foreign and security policy others urge a more modest increase in its
establishment. However, differences of opinion capacity for international peacekeeping,
within China occasionally surface, particularly humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and
in academic circles, about how China can protection of the sea lanes. The extent to which
achieve these goals and how it can best do so these considerations shape China’s current
over time without conflict with its neighbors or defense policy and force planning is not known.
the United States. However, it is increasingly apparent that these
Some prefer the traditional guidance provided concerns influence China’s thinking about
by former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in defense planning.
the early 1990s: “observe calmly; secure our
position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our THE NEW HISTORIC MISSIONS
capabilities and bide our time; be good at China’s leaders established baseline missions
maintaining a low profile; and never claim for the armed forces in 2004, officially titled the
leadership.” This guidance reflected Deng’s Historic Missions of the Armed Forces in the
belief that PRC foreign policy and security New Period of the New Century (xin shiji xin
strategy had to reinforce its core national jieduan wojun lishi shiming—
interest of promoting domestic development by
denying ambition, and avoiding any pretense of 新世纪新阶段我军历史使命). These “new
leadership while deflecting those who would historic missions” focus primarily on
encourage China to play a more active and adjustments in the PRC leadership’s assessment
constructive role in addressing regional and of the international security environment and
international problems. However, another expanding definition of national security.
group believes that this more limited approach These missions were further codified in a 2007
is untenable as China’s power grows. This amendment to the CCP Constitution. The
group asserts that China should actively missions, as currently defined, include:
cooperate with regional actors and the United  Provide an important guarantee of strength
States to increase China’s influence and to for the party to consolidate its ruling
assure neighbors and more distant great powers position.
that China’s rise will not pose a destabilizing
threat to their security. Still others believe that  Provide a strong security guarantee for
China needs to be tougher and more assertive in safeguarding the period of strategic
protecting its interests by countering perceived opportunity for national development.
efforts by the United States to constrain China  Provide a powerful strategic support for
or its influence in relation to actors such as safeguarding national interests.
Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and others in
Southeast Asia.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 18

28.
 Play an important role in safeguarding In a March 2009 speech to military delegates to
world peace and promoting common China’s National People’s Congress, President
development. Hu urged the military to concentrate on
“building core military capabilities,” but also
According to official writings, the driving
“the ability to carry out military operations
factors behind the articulation of these missions
other than war” (fei zhanzheng junshi
were: changes in China’s security situation,
challenges and priorities regarding China’s xingdong—非战争军事行动). Hu also
national development, and a desire to realign maintained, “with the prerequisite of
the tasks of the PLA with the CCP’s objectives. satisfactorily completing all missions—taking
Politburo member and CMC Vice Chairman Xu preparation for military struggle as the lead—
Caihou in 2005 asserted “the historic missions the armed forces must participate actively in
embody the new requirements imposed on the and support national economic construction and
military by the Party’s historic tasks, public welfare.”
accommodate new changes in our national
Authoritative PRC media describes these
development strategy, and conform to the new
“operations other than war” as including:
trends in global military development.”
counterterrorism, maintaining social stability,
The 2008 Defense White Paper stated that the disaster relief and rescue, and international
PLA had been directed to “integrate efforts to peacekeeping operations. China’s leaders have
enrich the country and strengthen the military,” mentioned other “non-war military” activities
“perform its new historic missions,” and “boost including protecting sea lanes, cyber warfare,
innovation in military theory, technology, security of space-based assets, conducting
organization, and management.” military diplomacy, and preparing for
Although economic development remains unexpected conditions and events.
China’s central task, China’s leaders clearly  The 2009 PLA Navy deployment to conduct
intend national defense to be coordinated with counter-piracy escort missions in the Gulf
economic growth to enable development. of Aden is one example of China’s pursuit
 President Hu Jintao’s strategic guidance to of its new historic missions.
the military reflects this view, calling on the  Another example was the December 2008
military to play a broader role in securing launch of China’s first large hospital ship.
China’s strategic interests, including those The ship is able to support combat
beyond its territorial boundaries. operations, but PRC official press reporting
stresses the humanitarian aspects of the
ship’s mission.
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29.
Military and Security Aspects of Beijing’s Regional Energy Strategy
China’s engagement, investment, and foreign construction related to energy continue to grow.
Beijing has constructed or invested in energy projects in more than 50 countries, spanning
nearly every continent. The majority of China’s external energy related projects and
investment since 2003 remains linked to securing long-term energy resources (primarily oil
and gas) to sustain economic and industrial development. Beijing’s goal for oil and gas
development projects is to provide China with direct access to and control of extracted crude
oil and natural gas. In addition to increasing imports, Beijing is also seeking to ensure supply
from as many producers and through as many transport options as possible. Although energy
independence is no longer an option for China, Beijing still seeks to maintain a supply chain
less susceptible to disruption from outside factors.
In 2008, China imported 56 percent of its oil and conservative
estimates of future oil consumption project that China will import
almost two-thirds of its oil by 2015 and four-fifths by 2030. Oil
currently contributes about 20% to national energy consumption;
China meets about 70% of its total energy needs through coal.
Analysis of PRC crude oil imports since 2000 shows only minor
variations in sources of crude oil imports. Beijing will therefore
likely continue to look to the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, Africa,
and North America to satisfy its growing demand for oil.
A second part of Beijing’s foreign energy strategy is the
development of land-based pipeline corridors that avoid sensitive
Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) such as the Strait of
Malacca. In 2008, over 80 percent of China’s oil imports
transited the Strait of Malacca. In 2006, a crude oil pipeline
designed to deliver 200,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil from Kazakhstan to China
became operational. A project to expand the capacity to 400,000 b/d is nearing completion
with future plans to increase capacity to 800,000 b/d. In May 2009, construction began on a
300,000 b/d spur pipeline from Siberia to Daqing. Another proposed pipeline would transport
400,000 b/d of crude oil from Kyuakpya, Burma, to Kunming, China, bypassing the Strait of
Malacca.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 20

30.
However, evaluation of proven global oil reserves indicates that China’s future energy needs
can only be met through suppliers in the Persian Gulf, Africa, and North America—all
extraction points that will continue to require maritime transport. Pipeline projects, for
example, will do little to minimize Beijing’s vulnerability in the Strait of Hormuz, through
which 40 percent of China’s crude oil imports transited in 2008—and this percentage is
expected to rise. The sheer volume of oil and liquefied natural gas imports to China from the
Middle East will make strategic SLOCs increasingly important to Beijing, and even if all
pipeline projects are completed on time and at designed capacity, the effect on China’s
hydrocarbon security will be minimal.
China’s import transit routes/critical chokepoints and proposed/under construction SLOC bypass routes.
Although China currently has no international natural gas pipeline connection, Beijing is
financing a pipeline that will deliver up to 40 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per
year from Turkmenistan to China across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Project construction
started in the summer of 2007. There are also proposals to build natural gas pipelines from
Russia and Burma that would deliver 68 and 12 bcm per year, respectively, to China. Beijing
is also urging Moscow to build a gas pipeline from Sakhalin Island to China that would
transport an undetermined amount of gas to northeast China.
With these projects, China has become a major economic contributor in several states.
However, Beijing has not used oil as a foreign policy lever on the international stage. This is
because China remains dependent on oil to support its own industrial and economic
development, which makes it a less attractive foreign policy tool. The increasing presence of
Chinese oil companies around the world nevertheless cannot be discounted as a future tool of
Beijing’s influence.
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31.
CHINA’S MILITARY STRATEGY According to the 2008 Defense White Paper,
these Guidelines emphasize fighting and
PLA theorists have developed a framework for winning local wars under conditions of
doctrine-driven reform with the long-term goal informatization and building toward integrated
of building a force capable of fighting and joint operations, with a stress on asymmetric
winning “local wars under conditions of warfare—“make the best use of our strong
informatization.” Drawing upon foreign points to attack the enemy’s weak points.”
military experiences, particularly U.S.-led Citing the need to ensure “close coordination
campaigns up to, and including, Operation between military struggle and political,
ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI diplomatic, economic, cultural, and legal
FREEDOM, Soviet and Russian military endeavors,” the Guidelines also emphasize the
theory, and the PLA’s own combat history, importance of integrating multiple instruments
China is transforming across the whole of its of state power to ensure deterrence and prevent
armed forces. conflict.
The pace and scale of these reforms are broad The operational, or “active defense,” (jiji
and sweeping. However, the PLA remains fangyu—积极防御) component of the
untested in modern combat. This lack of Guidelines posits a defensive military strategy
operational experience continues to complicate in which China does not initiate wars or fight
outside assessment of the progress of China’s wars of aggression, but engages in war only to
military transformation. The same applies to defend national sovereignty and territorial
China’s internal assessments of its own military integrity.
capabilities, for which China’s civilian leaders
must rely upon the advice of commanders Naval Warfare. The naval component of
lacking direct experience in modern combat or “active defense” is termed “Offshore Active
upon “scientific” combat models divorced from Defense.” The 2008 Defense White Paper
the realities of the modern battlefield. describes the PLA Navy as a strategic service,
developing the capability to operate in “distant
Analysis of authoritative speeches and waters.” The PLA Navy has three main
documents suggests China relies on a body of missions: resist seaborne aggression, protect
overall principles and guidance known as the national sovereignty, and safeguard maritime
“National Military Strategic Guidelines for the rights. PLA Navy doctrine for maritime
New Period” (xin shiqi guojia junshi zhanlüe operations focuses on six offensive and
fangzhen—新时期国家军事战略方針) to plan defensive campaigns: blockade, anti-sea lines
and manage the development and use of the of communication, maritime-land attack, anti-
armed forces. ship, maritime transportation protection, and
naval base defense.
Academic research suggests that the current
Guidelines most likely date to 1993, reflecting PRC President Hu Jintao called China a “sea
the impact of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and power” and advocated a “powerful people’s
the collapse of the Soviet Union on PRC navy” to “uphold our maritime rights and
military-strategic thinking, with interests” during a 2006 speech at a Navy CCP
“enhancements” in 2002 and 2004. The latter Congress. Other civilian leaders, PLA Navy
revisions likely reflect China’s perceptions of officials, government writings, and PLA
its security environment and the character of journals have argued that China’s economic and
modern war, integrate lessons learned from political power is contingent upon access to and
China’s military modernization, and emphasize use of the sea, and that a strong navy is required
building forces to win “local wars under to safeguard such access. Despite increased
conditions of informatization.” consideration of missions farther from China,
the Navy’s primary focus will remain on
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 22

32.
preparing for operations within the “first and
second island chains” (see map), with emphasis
on a potential conflict with U.S. forces over
Taiwan. This is likely to remain true until there
is a resolution of the Taiwan issue on terms
Beijing finds acceptable.
The First and Second Island Chains. PRC military theorists conceive of two island “chains” as forming a
geographic basis for China’s maritime defensive perimeter.
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 23